Tag: How to get into Recruitment

Aislinn Lea, Head of Fashion & Non-Food, Excel Recruitment

My Journey Into Recruitment – Aislinn Lea

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

What titles did you hold while working in Retail?

Retail Store Manager

Area Merchandising Manager

How does it compare going from working in Retail to a Recruitment environment?

Retail and Recruitment are very different industries. With Recruitment, you are confined to the one spot in an office, it is a very administrative business and you are only really measured on your sales which is driven through your relationships with your Clients and your Candidates

With Retail, you have a wide range of duties and accountabilities, it is far more creative and commercial where you are constantly looking to drive business through a variety of areas, People, Product, Merchandising, Standards and Costs. However once you have loved retail, recruitment taps in on this as you will thoroughly enjoy learning about a company, understanding their business requirements and passing this knowledge and understanding of a business to your candidate.

What was your favourite part about working in retail?

Visual Merchandising and Commercial success

What is your favourite aspect of working in Recruitment?

My favourite aspect of Recruitment is when I found myself really busy with a lot of live roles. I love filling roles and achieving that goal of finding the right candidate for the client.

Are you seeing any difference in applications over the last 12 months?

Yes, there is a lot more quality candidates however there is also a lot more jobs therefore I am finding that candidates are often out for 2/3 interviews at one time.

What do you favour most when a CV comes into your inbox? What must haves does a candidate need in order to be considered?

Not too many jumps on their c.v is the main thing I would be conscious off.

 

What has been your most favoured candidate placement and why?

I have had a few great placement that I would consider memorable for a variety of reasons.

Gary. I placed as a Territory Sales Manager with a relatively new client. Why, because he listened to all my feedback and took everything on board, he researched, practised and proved to our client that what he didn’t have in experience he had in enthusiasm, energy and ambition.

Fran. I placed Fran as Regional Manager with one of the largest mobile telecomm. operators in Ireland. I spent 6 months on this placement and was up against 3 other agencies. Fran was fantastic, she showed her enthusiasm and energy time and time again through each assignment asked of her throughout the interview process

Mari. I placed Mari as Department Manager with the a luxury Irish retail group. Mari has being trying so hard to get into the Retail Fashion Industry. She is an award winning grocery retailer however was finding it very difficult to get an interview with any Fashion house, that is until the our client group offered her an interview and ultimately loved her and offered her the position.

A young sales assistant aspires to be a Retail/Area Manager – Buyer/Senior Buyer. Describe what they should do in 4 sentences?

I think for a Young Sales Assistant looking to progress to Retail Area Management I would suggest you put in the work, studies, long hours and be as flexible as you can with regards to location when you are young and energetic therefore availing of all the opportunities and training afforded to you at the beginning of your career.

Listen and take on board any criticism, compliments and training offered and always be looking to improve yourself and let your employer know where you see yourself down the road.

Nikki Murran, Excel Recruitment's Director of Grocery Retail Recruitment

My Journey Into Recruitment – Nikki Murran

Posted on | by Aisling Rafferty

What titles did you hold while working in Retail?

I started my career working in our family Spar stores, so my first title was probably floor sweeper or shelf packer! I worked up to Junior Manager and Store Manager there and then moved to Lidl as a Trainee District Manager and then spent 5 years with Lidl as a Sales Operation Manager.

 

How does it compare going from working in Retail to a Recruitment environment?

It actually has so many similarities that I was very surprised when I made the move. Both are very customer focused, fast paced and target driven! Obviously the main difference for me was the move from being out on the road to being stationed in an office! But between client visits, head hunting trips and away recruitment days I’ve never felt too stagnant! I used to miss the buzz of a shop floor on a busy morning, getting the store prepared for opening but that has been replaced by the buzz of placing great candidates in great roles!!

 

What was your favourite part about working in retail?

I loved my staff. I loved developing them and recognising talent and growing it. Another one of my favourite things in retail was achieving KPIs across my stores and growing sales by focusing on trends, standards and displays. I also loved the customers!

 

What is your favourite aspect of working in Recruitment?

Well I love my team! I love seeing how much they have grown since joining us. I love dealing with clients and still getting those snapshots into the retail world and see how the market is moving and changing all the time. And obviously I really enjoying identifying talent and bringing that talent to our clients knowing they will make a real difference to their bottom line.

 

Are you seeing any difference in applications over the last 12 months?

I think the applications are pretty consistent this year versus last year. But I have noticed a lot more counter offers coming back to candidates – something that had been pretty non-existent in the last few years!

 

What do you favour most when a CV comes into your inbox? What must haves does a candidate need in order to be considered?

This is a difficult one as a CV really only tells half the tale. I do look for strong brands, progression and longevity in each role.

What has been your most favoured candidate placement and why?

My very first one of course! He was a Baker from New Zealand who had just arrived in Ireland. Some of the most rewarding ones have been where clients have asked me to garner them really top talent and I was able to do this but also being able to secure a role for a candidate who had been out of employment for a while.

 

A young sales assistant aspires to be a Retail Area Manager Describe what they should do in 4 sentences?

Ask questions – Lot and lots of questions! I never stop doing this. No matter how long in a role or company you can always learn more.

Educate yourself – if you’re not in a position to go get a degree or qualification, then read everything you can about the market and industry – keep yourself up to date – again this is something I always do!

Be the master of your own destiny! Don’t wait around for training, go get it, ask for it, do it in your own time, approach your managers, friends, neighbours, relatives in the industry and get as must knowledge as you can.

Be reliable and consistent. Even as you start out as a sales assistant it’s so important to start working on your professional reputation as a hardworking, reliable employee from the very beginning.

Use Excel Recruitment when it’s time for each move! We are the No. 1 Retail Recruitment agency in Ireland and are very good at what we do!

A little more advice than 4 sentences 🙂